Vietnam final conference offers findings and paves way for further collaborations

Ninety stakeholders from government, international organisations, the private sector and research participated in a final conference held by the Vietnam team of the One Health Poultry Hub. They set the scene for future One Health collaborations at the same time as findings were presented and discussed.

The event, which took place at Ha Long Bay, north Vietnam, 23 March, was split into two sessions: the first relating to the poultry production and distribution networks, gender issues, and initial findings related to avian influenza and foodborne pathogens; the second focusing on issues related to antibiotic usage and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

 vietnam key findings

The outcomes of the project hold significant importance in shaping policies and proposing measures for disease prevention and control. Specifically:

• The findings on avian influenza highlight the importance of educating farmers about bacterial infections and antibiotic usage and also about the diversity of viral infections (e.g. avian influenza virus H9N2, H5N1) and the dynamics of virus transmissions. Such comprehensive training will empower farmers to enhance disease prevention and control practices.
• The results on antimicrobial residues and AMR have critical significance on both exporting poultry products and ensuring the safety of domestic consumers.

Dr Francois Roger, Regional Director for Southeast Asia of the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), gave the opening speech at the conference. He said:

The One Health Poultry Hub project in Vietnam represents a comprehensive effort to tackle the complex issues facing the poultry industry through research, collaboration and the implementation of One Health strategy. Its findings and ongoing activities contribute valuable insights and practical solutions to enhance the sustainability and safety of poultry production, with implications for human and environmental health.

He stressed: “The Hub has made an effort to incorporate the social sciences since the beginning of the project, which is an important thing to note. This needs to be maintained for future projects within this framework.”

Future research

The Hub team in Vietnam and other countries will continue to analyse the Hub’s data to find results that will benefit both animal and human health in study sites and globally, and the  Hub will continue to provide a platform for researchers to collaborate.

At the conference, researchers in Vietnam, including those from Vietnam National University of Agriculture, National Institute of Veterinary Research and CIRAD, had discussions with overseas Hub researchers, including those from the Royal Veterinary College, The Pirbright Institute and the Institute of Development Studies, about future collaborations focusing on developing avian influenza vaccines and studying social aspects and antimicrobial residues in poultry production.

International organisations in Vietnam such as Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and local veterinary agencies said they were willing to collaborate and share knowledge, experiences and research findings with the Hub team. Steps are now being put into place to ensure researchers and stakeholders can stay in touch.

Participants at the conference included representatives from government organisations at the national and provincial levels, namely from the Department of Animal Health, the Department of Livestock Production, the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), and the Sub Departments of Animal Health in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien Hue, Hai Duong and Bac Giang. Representatives from international organisations in Vietnam, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, the International Livestock Research Institution, OUCRU, FHI 360 and the UK Embassy in Hanoi were also present alongside delegates from the Vietnam One Health University Network and from the private sector (Livestock Association, slaughterhouse owners).